On and Poppin'

From Jazziz
Although keyboardist/composer Linny Nance could benefit from this movement away from synth on his Positive Music debut On & Poppin', he cleverly balances the cheesy synth vibes with some unique production ideas that employ live instruments. A pretty enough ballad, "Gift" features an impressive dual lead line played by saxman Tom Braxton and Nance's synth, but the emotion is undermined by weird electronic vocal cries and way-outdated synth harmonies.

The title track features a funky electronic keyboard melody but is most notable for the rising energies of the brass section: saxman Fulton Turnage, trumpeter Willie Roy Jr., and trombonist James Wallace. It ends up sounding like a combination of real live soul and too much machinery. Nance leads "Last Night" with a tradeoff between harp sounds and low-toned keys that sound distorted in the mix. The melody turns spacey at one point, but is almost rescued by an accompanying live muted trumpet line by Nance himself. A similar pattern emerges throughout, with potent tunes like "Jam For Pam" undercut by electronica, while at the same time, getting a boost from some live soloing (on that tune, by saxman Charles Ledbetter). Since Nance's melodies are all first-rate, the problems should be easy to fix. Perhaps a bigger budget next time out will also help resolve the persistent problem of electronic percussion that often sounds robotic.

On and Poppin',Linny Nance,Positive Music,Crossover Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Smooth Jazz

Jazz Music: